“One foggy morning, an e-mail appears in inboxes across the small town of Lanier, Indiana, population 12,234. ‘Invitation to Participate: Sex in the Midwest,’ the subject line reads. A link leads to an extensive survey, but why has Lanier been chosen? And by whom?” Thus reads the promo copy for a new book written by Madison’s very own Robyn Ryle, her fifth and what promises to be her most widely distributed and read effort to date.
“The town of Lanier is fictional,” explains Robyn, “but astute readers will recognize some similarities to Madison, no question. The entire novel is really a love letter to small towns, the slower pace and quality of life we all enjoy here in the Midwest. There’s something very beautiful about the way we live. I like to think the chaos of the world gets kind of blunted by the time it gets to us. And you have to get along with each other in ways you might not in a big city.
Sex Of The Midwest is Robyn’s fifth published book. There is one other fiction work, a young adult novel titled Fair Game. And there are three non-fiction books, one about gender, one about sports and one is a sociology textbook.
“When I first went to college I was thinking about journalism,” says Robyn, “but then I took a creative writing class and it changed the trajectory of my life. I ended up majoring in English and Sociology. That background brought me to Hanover College 21 years ago where I became a professor of sociology and gender studies. My husband and I have lived in historic downtown Madison for 18 years now in a 200 year old house.
“Sex Of the Midwest might be described as a post-pandemic novel. That time of upheaval and change had such a big impact on all of us, but it affected us differently here in the small towns than it did in New York or LA. I wanted to explore that dynamic through some interesting and diverse characters.
“There’s a character waiting for a lung transplant. There’s a bartender having a mid-life crisis. And there’s a kid who’s been out in San Francisco coming back to his small hometown. Overlaying their stories is this mysterious sex survey email that everyone in town received, but no one knows who sent it or why. It allowed me to really explore the changes in our social lives amid the lingering feelings of loneliness and isolation after Covid.
“I truly believe that small towns are so much weirder than people realize, and I can dramatize and share that through these main characters. As I said before, the whole project is a love letter to small town America. Those of us who live here know how truly special and interesting it can be.”
“The book is being published by Galiot Press out of Boston, which is a brand new publisher, and it’s actually their first book. The company was founded by two women who weren’t happy with what was coming out of mainstream publishing, and they wanted to create a platform for different voices. I think there was something novel about the Midwest tone of my book that really caught their attention, it’s so different from the east coast mindset.
“Early reaction to the book has been very gratifying. It earned a coveted ‘Starred Review’ from Kirkus Reviews, which anyone in the publishing or bookwriting world will recognize is kind of a big deal. I’m super excited to share it with my friends, the local community, and the whole world.”
The book can be pre-ordered right now from any of the online book outlets (Amazon, etc.), and it is available locally at NEAT store on Main Street, right between Crawdaddy’s and Mary’s Shear Perfection.
HOT TIP OF THE WEEK:
I don’t think people truly realize the consistency and quality of the live music scene in Madison. When we talk about there being “live music every weekend” we don’t mean just on festival weekends. Or just on the occasions when Red Bicycle Hall or the Ohio theater have special ticketed shows. We’re talking about every single weekend, 52 weeks a year, rain or shine, hot or cold. This weekend is a good case in point. There are no special events scheduled (although MadHop Fest is coming up November 4th, get your tickets now!) There is no big festival going on. But nevertheless, Friday and Saturday nights are literally packed with live music opportunities all over town. Our nightlife is the main reason that sets Madison apart as maybe the best weekend getaway spot in the entire region. So make your plans, book your room, and check it out for yourself!
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